Sutera plant named ‘Dancopink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  plant named ‘Dancopink’ particularly characterized by having 5-petalled violet-colored flowers with a yellow throat measuring 1.5 cm in diameter; trailing vigorous growth; early flowering response; and suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight- and slight shade.

Botanical designation: Sutera sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Dancopink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Suteraplant, botanically known as Sutera sp., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Dancopink’.

Sutera, of the Scrophulriaceae family, consists of annuals which aregrown in most climate zones in the U.S., and only in zones 9 and 10 ifit is a perennial plant.

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a newSutera variety with large, pink flowers and branched, compact growthhabit.

The new Sutera cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program by the inventor in 2003, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The female parent is a proprietary cultivar designated‘CV-03-53’ (unpatented). The male parent is open pollination. The newSutera cultivar ‘Dancopink’ was discovered and selected by the inventor,Gabriel Danziger, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Sutera cultivar by vegetative cuttingwas first performed in July, 2003 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, andhas demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivarreproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Dancopink’ which in combinationdistinguish this Sutera as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. 5-petalled violet-colored flowers with a yellow throat        measuring 1.5 cm in diameter;    -   2. Trailing vigorous growth;    -   3. Early flowering response; and    -   4. Suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination        planters and ground cover under full sunlight and slight shade.

Plants of ‘Dancopink’ differ from the plants of the female parent,‘CV-03-53’ (unpatented) primarily in flower color and size. The flowersize of ‘Dancopink’ is smaller than the parent, measuring 1.5 cm whereasthe parent is 1.7 cm. The flower color of ‘Dancopink’ is darker violetthan the parent. ‘Dancopink’ flowers are violet, RHS 84C, with RHS 84Ato RHS 84B at the center, whereas ‘CV-03-53’ flowers are purple, RHS76D, with 76A at the center.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similarin comparison to ‘Dancopink’ is the Sutera cultivar ‘Copia Lavender’(unpatented). The new cultivar ‘Dancopink’ is distinguishable from‘Copia Lavender’ in flower color. The flower color of ‘Dancopink’ isviolet, RHS 84C, with violet, RHS 84A and RHS 84B, at the base of thepetals, whereas ‘Copia Lavender’ flowers are violet-blue, RHS 91B.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Sutera cultivar ‘Dancopink’ showing the colors as true as isreasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of‘Dancopink’.

The first photograph shows a side view perspective of a typical‘Dancopink’ plant in a hanging basket at 3 months.

The second photograph shows a close-up of the violet flowers of‘Dancopink’ at 3 months.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Sutera cultivar ‘Dancopink’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype ofthe plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Sutera cultivar‘Dancopink’ as grown in greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel,under conditions which closely approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2001, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately 12:00 pm. in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The age ofthe plant described is 3 months.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Sutera sp.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Proprietary cultivar designated            ‘CV-03-53’ (unpatented).        -   Male or pollen parent.—Open pollination.        -   Optimal growth conditions.—        -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight, slight shade.        -   Temperature.—Day 20° C. to 24° C. Night 16° C. to 20° C.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to low 5° C. to 7° C. and            high 30° C. to 35° C. temperatures.        -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with level of 100 ppm            Nitrogen.        -   Growth regulators.—Unnecessary.-   Propagation: Tip cuttings of side shoots.-   Plant:    -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: 7 cm. Spread: 42 cm.            Shape: Trailing.        -   Winter hardiness.—Hardy in moderate climate.        -   Vigor.—Strong.        -   Branching habit.—Vigorously branched.        -   Lateral branches.—

TABLE 1 Branch characteristic Primary Secondary Length 38 cm. 14 cm.Diameter 2 mm. 1 mm. Internode Length 2 cm. 1.5 cm. Texture Slightlyrough Slightly rough Pubescence Present Present Color Green, RHS 138BGreen, RHS 138B

-   -   -   Rooting habit and description.—Easy to root. Time to            initiate roots: 7 to 10 days. Time to produce a rooted            cutting: 14 days.        -   Crop time.—8 to 10 weeks for a flowering pot.        -   Fragrance.—None.

-   Foliage:    -   -   Overall shape of leaf.—Rhomboidal.        -   Base shape.—Acute.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Dentate.        -   Texture.—Slightly velvety.        -   Pubescence.—Slightly present.        -   Leaf length.—2.5 cm.        -   Leaf width.—1.7 cm.        -   Color of upper surface.—Mature leaf: Yellow-Green, RHS 147A.            Immature leaf: Green, RHS 137A.        -   Color of lower surface.—Mature leaf: Green, RHS 137A.            Immature leaf: Yellow-Green, RHS 146A.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green, RHS 147A. Lower            surface: Green, RHS 137A.        -   Petiole.—Length: 5 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Color: Yellow-Green,            RHS 147A.

-   Flower description:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—All year round in moderate            climate.        -   Lastingness of the bloom.—Flowering of a single flower lasts            for 7 days.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 200.        -   Flower size.—Diameter (spread): 1.5 cm. Diameter at lobes:            15 mm. Diameter of corolla tube: 1 mm. Overall flower            height: 8 mm.        -   Flower bud.—Height: 8 mm. Diameter: 4 mm. Color: Purple, RHS            76A. Shape: Spatulas.        -   Petals.—Shape: Oval. Length: 5 mm. Width: 5 mm. Apex:            Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture: Slightly velvety.        -   Color.—Upper surface, when opening: Violet, RHS 84B. Upper            surface, opened flower: Violet, RHS 84C. Lower surface, when            opening: Violet, RHS 84C. Lower surface, opened flower:            Violet, RHS 84C.        -   Corolla throat color.—Yellow, RHS 13A.        -   Calyx.—Appearance: Deeply 5 lobed.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Linear. Length: 5 mm. Diameter: 2 mm.            Quantity: 5. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Upper surface            color: Green, RHS 141A. Lower surface color: Green, RHS            141A.        -   Pedicel.—Aspect: Slanted upward. Length: 10 mm. Diameter:            1 mm. Angle: 45°. Color: Green, RHS 143A.

-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen.—Number: 4. Color: Yellow, 3A.        -   Anthers.—Color: Yellow, RHS 13A. Shape and length: Cylinder,            1 mm.        -   Pollen.—Color: Yellow, RHS 13A.        -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Length: 9 mm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Undulate. Color: Yellow, RHS 3A.        -   Ovary.—Color: Green-Yellow, RHS 1C.

-   Seeds:    -   -   Width.—0.5 mm.        -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Texture.—Warty.        -   Color.—Greyed-Yellow, RHS 161C.

-   Fruit:    -   -   Width.—2 mm.        -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Shape.—Ellipsoid.        -   Texture.—Warty.        -   Color.—Greyed-Orange, RHS 165A.

-   Disease/pest resistance: No information is currently available.

-   Disease/pest susceptibility: No information is currently available.

1. A new and distinct Sutera plant named ‘Dancopink’, substantially asillustrated and described herein.